Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 456

"Nothing," Hudson replied, his voice uncharacteristically tender, sounding as if it were traveling from miles away. "Just missing you."

She tightened her grip on her phone, her heart skipping a beat.

He was getting ridiculously clingy lately...

"...I know," she whispered back, her ears burning. "I miss you too."

He let out a low rumble of a laugh that vibrated pleasantly through the speaker.

"I'll let you go, then."

"Okay."

Nora pulled the phone away, fighting back a foolish grin.

She shoved it into her coat pocket and turned to head back to the main hall, but it immediately vibrated again.

The caller ID flashed a single word: Mom.

Nora's brow pinched.

She stared at the screen for two seconds before swiping to reject the call.

A few seconds later, it rang again.

Penelope.

Her face completely devoid of emotion, Nora declined it again, opened her settings, and permanently blocked the number.

...

Back at the Reed Residence, the atmosphere was suffocating.

Marcus slumped on the sofa, a rough layer of gray stubble covering his jaw. He looked completely shattered. A cigarette burned idly between his fingers, the ash growing dangerously long.

Penelope clutched her phone, listening to the automated 'caller unavailable' message, her face draining of color.

"What happened? Did she answer?"

Penelope gritted her teeth. "She blocked me."

Marcus just stared at her in silence.

Looking at Penelope's tear-stained face, he suddenly felt a wave of disgust.

When she had callously thrown Nora into the fire to protect Jade, she hadn't even blinked.

Now that Nora had finally cut ties, she was suddenly desperate.

But he had no other choice.

Jade was his flesh and blood. He couldn't watch his own daughter go to prison.

He knew he was partially to blame for this disaster. He had spoiled her relentlessly.

He had raised her to believe she was above the law and untouchable.

Now, he was paying the price.

Even if it meant throwing away every last ounce of his dignity, he was going to get that Waiver of Prosecution!